General Overview
Psycho-social Services
Emotional adjustment is one of the most important phases of the training at Lions World Services for the Blind. Learning to function without sight is the major problem facing a person who is blind. The LWSB trainee is guided by the psycho-social staff through individual counseling, group counseling, assessment, and evaluation throughout his or her stay at the center. Each trainee works individually with a counselor who serves as case manager. A consulting psychiatrist and a psychological examiner are members of the psycho-social team.
Personal Adjustment ServicesTo live an independent life, a person who is blind or visually impaired must make some adjustments. There are over 30 areas of skill development in personal adjustment. Among these adjustments are learning such skills as Braille, typing, oral communications, clothing care, cooking, grooming, housekeeping, independent travel through the use of a long cane, orientation to the environment and use of transportation systems. |
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Personal adjustment training includes the development of self-confidence in areas of social skills, physical conditioning and recreation. |
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Vocational Evaluation
Vocational evaluation plays an important role in the training offered at LWSB. Evaluation is made through a variety of tests, such as assessment of aptitudes, interests and academic skills, and work samples. The vocational evaluation process has provided an advantage in assessing and developing an individual's work potential.
Vocational TrainingAlways a leader in vocational training, LWSB offers a variety of programs to prepare individuals who are blind or visually impaired for careers in both white and blue collar jobs. The center currently offers 13 vocational programs, which include three courses that teach clients to work for the Internal Revenue Service. The three IRS courses are:
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Specialized Courses
Individuals not requiring a full vocational training program may enroll in a component of a course (with the exception of the Internal Revenue Service-related courses).
Individualized programs can be designed by combining components of several programs to meet specific, identified training needs. Components include:
Assistive TechnologyThe Assistive Technology Learning Center has an extensive selection of the latest hardware and software products to adapt personal computers to be accessible by people who are blind or visually impaired. A person can review the choices and learn to operate one or more assistive technologies. Some of the inventory includes screen reader systems (for speech output, large print, refreshable braille display), scanners, and braille printers and devices. |
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The training is useful for job retention, upward career mobility, academic work for high school or college students, and for personal use. |
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Job Seeking Skills
The LWSB Career Training Center offers classroom instruction, one-on-one tutoring, and job searching. The instruction covers practical applications (forms, resumes, job shadowing, mock interviews), an overview of assistive technology, and orientation and mobility. The classroom instruction and group activities cover job site issues, goals, dress and grooming, self-organization, job retention, and much more. The Center has a computer workstation that is accessible with assistive technology and on-line with internet services for nationwide job searches.
Transition Courses
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College Preparatory Program
The purpose of this program is to bridge the gap from high school to college. The nine-week summer program has an entry date of the first week in June. The curriculum includes academic skills (freshman English), adaptive skills (computers and assistive technology, lifeskills), and socialization skills. -
Transition from School to Work
Training is for vocational readiness and/or to obtain a General Educational Development (GED) diploma. The course includes counseling services, vocational exploration and observation, academic courses taught by a certified teacher, and training in socialization skills and adaptive skills.
Other Services
LWSB offers a number of other services. Among them are:
- Individualized independent living skills for elderly people who are blind.
- A low-vision clinic with vision rehabilitation services
- Employer education workshops
- In-service training for rehabilitation professionals
Public Relations
Find out what's happening at Lions World Services for the Blind by reading our quarterly newsletter, New Life. Current and past issues of New Life can be viewed on our website by clicking here.
Braille and audio cassette versions of our newsletter are available for the blind and visually impaired. To receive Braille or cassette newsletters, or to be placed on our newsletter mailing list, please e-mail development@lwsb.org.
Lions World Services for the Blind also publishes detailed brochures covering each of LWSB's comprehensive services. In addition, a 7-minute video which provides a general overview of the services at LWSB is available in DVD or VHS formats. To obtain brochures or a copy of our video, please e-mail development@lwsb.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS YOUR AVERAGE ENROLLMENT? -- The average enrollment is 60, and LWSB has the capacity to house 91 trainees at a time.
DO THE TRAINEES LIVE ON CAMPUS? -- Yes, LWSB is a full residential facility with dormitories for women and men and a cafeteria that serves three meals a day.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY? -- A trainee who attends LWSB for our personal adjustment program stays approximately 4 months. A trainee enrolled in one of our 13 vocational programs stays between 4 to 10 months, depending on the program.
HOW MUCH DOES THE TRAINING COST? -- The training for one trainee costs approximately $4,600 a month for tuition, room and board.
DO THE TRAINEES HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR TUITION? -- No, the majority of the tuition fees are generally provided by each state’s rehabilitation agency. The rest of the funding comes from individual donations and bequests, general fundraising and Lions Clubs.
I THOUGHT THE LIONS CLUBS PROVIDED ALL THE FUNDING NEEDED BY LWSB? -- Lions Clubs from Arkansas and surrounding states contribute generously to LWSB. But Lions Clubs only contribute approximately 12% of LWSB’s operating budget, so the center needs support from many sources.
DOES LWSB ONLY SERVE PEOPLE WHO ARE TOTALLY BLIND? -- About 40% of the people LWSB serves are totally blind. The other trainees are “legally blind,” and have exhausted any physical restoration of eyesight that is possible.
WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE OF THE TRAINEES YOU SERVE? -- We serve adults, ranging from 16 years to 90 plus.
HOW IS A PERSON REFERRED TO LWSB FOR TRAINING? – Each state has a state agency that provides services to its residents who are blind. That Arkansas agency is called the Division of Services for the Blind. A person interested in training at LWSB should contact his or her state agency which has branch offices across the state. The state office then contacts LWSB with referral information. Anyone, however, can call LWSB directly to request information.
